Comments on: Kheel: Subways should be cheap as free http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/02/13/kheel-subways-should-be-cheap-as-free/ A New York City Subway Blog Mon, 21 May 2012 16:13:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Free transit advocate Ted Kheel passes away at 96 :: Second Ave. Sagas http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/02/13/kheel-subways-should-be-cheap-as-free/#comment-112742 Free transit advocate Ted Kheel passes away at 96 :: Second Ave. Sagas Mon, 15 Nov 2010 03:06:03 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/02/13/kheel-subways-should-be-cheap-as-free/#comment-112742 [...] Theodore Kheel, a long-time advocate for congestion pricing and free transit in New York City, has died at the age of 96, The Times reported tonight. Kheel came to fame in New York City as a labor mediator known for bringing together people who otherwise were at odds, and he grew to be an influential voice in New York politics for many decades. Recently, Kheel has used his resources to make the rigorous case for free transit. [...] [...] Theodore Kheel, a long-time advocate for congestion pricing and free transit in New York City, has died at the age of 96, The Times reported tonight. Kheel came to fame in New York City as a labor mediator known for bringing together people who otherwise were at odds, and he grew to be an influential voice in New York politics for many decades. Recently, Kheel has used his resources to make the rigorous case for free transit. [...]

]]> By: Second Ave. Sagas | Blogging the NYC Subways » Blog Archive » Kheel: The subways could be free, but… http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/02/13/kheel-subways-should-be-cheap-as-free/#comment-20290 Second Ave. Sagas | Blogging the NYC Subways » Blog Archive » Kheel: The subways could be free, but… Fri, 25 Jan 2008 06:12:44 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/02/13/kheel-subways-should-be-cheap-as-free/#comment-20290 [...] mind — and I really do urge you to read the report — let’s go back to the beginning. Once a skeptic, I love this plan, but it will never happen for the simple reason that it would be political [...] [...] mind — and I really do urge you to read the report — let’s go back to the beginning. Once a skeptic, I love this plan, but it will never happen for the simple reason that it would be political [...]

]]> By: Peter http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/02/13/kheel-subways-should-be-cheap-as-free/#comment-142 Peter Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:36:15 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/02/13/kheel-subways-should-be-cheap-as-free/#comment-142 When MTA-NYCT geared up for the MetroCard, the number disussed as the cost of installing the system was, as I recall, in the mid-$700 Million range. I expect that the budget number was probably exceeded (what capital project ever comes in under budget, for any large organization?), and that it likely did not include secondary costs, like upgrading the antiquated electical systems of many old stations, and other indirect expenses. At the time, I wondered why, instead of paying nearly a billion dollars up front, why NYCT didnt simply throw open the turnstiles, and take the $750Mil and put it in the bank. The cost of collecting and accounting revenue has gone down with electronic fare collection, but if NO money was collected, hundreds, maybe thousands of employees could be reassigned, or eliminated by attrition. Obviously, despite attractive possibilities, "free" transit service would have many political and practical ramifications, and probably some significant unintended consequences, those mentioned in your subject essay among them. As for Mr Kheel's proposal, it is even less likely than the suggestion of imposing tolls on the now-free East River bridges, the mere mention of which causes the American Automobile Assoc. to dispatch a regiment of attorneys to the State Supreme Court. When MTA-NYCT geared up for the MetroCard, the number disussed as the cost of installing the system was, as I recall, in the mid-$700 Million range. I expect that the budget number was probably exceeded (what capital project ever comes in under budget, for any large organization?), and that it likely did not include secondary costs, like upgrading the antiquated electical systems of many old stations, and other indirect expenses.

At the time, I wondered why, instead of paying nearly a billion dollars up front, why NYCT didnt simply throw open the turnstiles, and take the $750Mil and put it in the bank. The cost of collecting and accounting revenue has gone down with electronic fare collection, but if NO money was collected, hundreds, maybe thousands of employees could be reassigned, or eliminated by attrition.

Obviously, despite attractive possibilities, “free” transit service would have many political and practical ramifications, and probably some significant unintended consequences, those mentioned in your subject essay among them.

As for Mr Kheel’s proposal, it is even less likely than the suggestion of imposing tolls on the now-free East River bridges, the mere mention of which causes the American Automobile Assoc. to dispatch a regiment of attorneys to the State Supreme Court.

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